Conceptualization of dynamic digital coopetition: Evidence from hospitality platforms

Abstract

In the digital platform landscape, hotels, as complementors, unavoidably participate in dynamic coopetition. Prior work on dynamic coopetition has primarily focused on the role of platform owners, who command considerable power in orchestrating coopetitive dynamics. However, the way in which power-disadvantaged complementors engage in such coopetition has been neglected. Through a qualitative multiple-case study of a hospitality platform, we find that hotels can engage in dynamic coopetition under asymmetric relationships with digital platforms to survive, supported by digital innovation. We conceptualize the “dynamic digital coopetition”, and elucidate three mechanisms underlying this: phygital expanding, loose-coupled bridging, and instant shifting. These mechanisms cover spatial, relational, and temporal levels. This conceptualization represents our primary contribution, as we unveil how complementors as power-disadvantaged actors step into dynamic coopetition in digital platforms to survive. We offer practical guidance to complementors from traditional sectors to embrace digital platforms.